Wrench having pivotal jaw cooperable with multisurfaced fixed jaw



Patented June 26, 1951 WRENCH HAVING PIVOTAL JAW COOPER- ABLE WITH MULTISURFACED FIXED J AW Herman Bachli and Harry S. Shapiro, Chicago,

IlL, assignors to Chicago Specialty Manufacturing 00., Chicago, Ill.

Application September 7, 1950, Serial No. 183,564

6 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to improvements in wrenches, the general object of the invention being the provision of a wrenchhaving plural sets of. teeth on a fixed inner jaw and having a multiaxis-pivoted outer jaw, whereby a wrench operation may be effected by lateral movement of the handle or by rotational movement about the axis of the handle, thereby permitting the wrench to be used in the usual manner or in closely confined or restricted places where use of a conventional wrench would be prevented.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a wrench of the foregoing type in which one jaw is movable about an axis transverse to the axis of the handle so that it can be moved to different positions and be yieldingly retained in any one position of adjustment to facilitate engagement of the jaws of the wrench with a work piece.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a wrench which is simple in construction, durable in service and economical to manufacture.

Other and further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of our invention showing the movable jaw in one position of operation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wrench showing the movable jaw in another position of operation, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a tubular handle, the lower end of which is preferably, perforated to receive a rod member 6 which is adapted to be engaged as by a hand to rotate the handle 5 about its longitudinal axis. A wrench jaw element 1 including a head 8 and a shank 9 is disposed at the upper end of the handle 5 with the shank being received within the bore of the handle 5. The shank 9 is fitted into the bore of the handle 5 so as to be secured therein against relative movement. The head 8 is cylindrical in form and has formed on its cylindrical surface a series of hardened serrations 01' teeth l0 extending parallel to the axis of the from the head 8 by an annular ring [4 received in an annular groove It at the end of stud [5, the ring l4 providing a shoulder adapted to abut against a shoulder [1 provided in the bore [2. A coil spring 18 received within the bore [2 abuts the shoulder I1 and a shoulder 13a provided on the member l3 and serves to frictionally retain the member IS in a position of adjustment. The member I3 is provided with an ear l9 which is perforated to receive a pin 2 I on which is pivotally supported a jaw member 22. The said jaw mem-v ber is substantially arcuate in form and is provided on its surface with a series of hardened serrations or teeth 23 arranged parallel to the axis of the pin 21. Integrally formed with the jaw member 22 are spaced perforated cars 24 in the perforations of which is received a pin 2 I, said pin being peened at its ends to permanently secure the jaw member 22 to the swivel member l3.

As will be apparent, the swivel member [3 permits the jaw member 22 to be rotated at least through an angle of so that the jaw member 22 may be made to cooperate with opposite serrations or teeth In on the head 8, or with the serrations I l on the arcuate surface of the head 8.

Thus, as viewed in Fig. l, the jaw member 22 has been swung so that the serrations 23 thereof are in parallel relationship with the serrations I!) on the head 8, the jaw member 22 being in a position relative to the head 8 such that the gripping action on a work piece as a circular rod or pipe 26, indicated by the broken lines, will be increased as the wrench handle 5 is turned in a clockwise direction, thereby to tighten up an object having a conventional right-hand thread. The jaw 22 may also be rotated 180 to position said jaw to cooperate with the serrations ID on the opposite side of the head 8, thereby requiring that the handle 5 be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to increase the grip of the wrench on the object to be turned.

With the jaw 22 in either of the positions above described, the wrench may be used in closely confined or restricted places, and may be rotated about the axis of thehandle upon the application of a torsional force on the handle 57 The jaw 22 may be positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the serrations or teeth 23 are in parallel relation to the teeth on the head 8. In this position the work piece is gripped between the teeth 23 and II of the jaw 22 and head 8 respectively. With the jaw 22 in this position, the wrench may be used in the same manner as a conventional wrench, the handle 5, in. this instance, serving as a lever to which a pulling or 3 pushing force may be applied to move the bandle in the direction of the arrow to the position indicated by the broken lines.

It will be apparent that the pressure of spring l8 against shoulder l3a provides the necessary friction to retain the jaw 22 in a position of adjustmen-t, but yet to permit rotation of the said jaw about the axis of stud 15, so that it may be placed in position for use.

We claim:

1. A wrench comprisin a handle, a head fixed at one end of said handle, said head being substantially cylindrical in form and having teeth on the cylindrical surface extendin parallel 'to the axis of said handle, said head having an end face and teeth on said face extending transversely of the axis of said handle, said head having an opening therein extending at a right angle to said last mentioned teeth, a swivel member-em tending into said opening and rotatable therein, means "to f'rictionally retain said swivel member against f'ree rotation, and an arcuate jaw member having one end pivotally attached to said swivel member so as to be movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said swivel member.

'2. A wrench comprising a handle, a head fixed at one end of said handle, said head being substantially cylindrical in form and having teeth on the cylindrical surface extending parallel to the axi of said handle, said head having an end face and teeth on said face extending transversel'y of the axis of said handle, said head having an opening therein extendin at a right angle to said last mentioned teeth, a swivel member having a stud portion received in said opening and rotatable'therein, a coil spring received within said opening and in concentric relation to said stud portion, said spring bearing against a shoulder "on said stud portion to frictionally retain the same against free rotation, and an arcuate jaw member having one end pivotally attached to said swivel member so as to be movable about an axis perpendicular of the axis of rotation of said swivel member.

3. 'A wrench comprising a handle,-a head fixed at one end of said handle, said head having teeth extending parallel to the axis of the handle and other teeth extending transversely of the axis of said handle, said head having ;an opening therein extending at a right angle to said last mentioned teeth, a swivel member extending into said'o'pening and rotatable therein, means to frictio'nally "retain said swivel member against free said handle, said head having an opening therein extending at a right angle to said last mentioned teeth, a swivel member havin a stud portion received in said opening and rotatable therein, a coil spring received within said opening and in concentric relation to said stud portion, said spring bearing against a shoulder on said stud portion to frictionally retain the same against free rotation, and an arcuate jaw member having one end pivotally attached to said swivel member so as to be movable about an axis perpendicular of the axis of rotation of said swivel member.

5. A wrench comprising a tubular handle, a head having a shank received in one end of said handle and fixed thereto, said head being substantially cylindrical in form and having teeth on the cylindrical surface extending parallel to the axis of said handle, said head having an end arcuate face and teeth on said face extending transversely of the axis of said handle, said head having an opening therein extending at a right angle to said last mentioned teeth, a swivel member extending into said opening and rotatable therein, spring means bearing against said swivel member to frictionally retain the same against free rotation, and an arcuate jaw member having one end pivotally attached to said swivel member so as to be movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said swivel member.

6. A wrench comprising a tubular handle, a headhaving a shank received in one end of said handle and fixed thereto, said head having teeth extending parallel to the axis of said handle and other teeth extending transversely of the axis of said handle, said head having an opening therein extending at a right angle tosaid last mentioned teeth, a swivel member having a stud portion received in said opening and rotatable therein, a coil spring received within said openin and in concentric relation tosaid stud portion said spring bearing against'a shoulder on said stud portion to frictionally retain the same against free rotation, and an arcuate jaw-member having one end pivotally attached'to said swivel member so as to be movable about an perpendicular of the axis of rotation of said swivel member.

HERMAN BAC-HLI. HARRY S. SHAPIRO.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are of record in'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,377,178 Andree May 10, :1921 1,844,033 Cornelius -s Feb. 9, 1932 2,491,623 Sesak Dec. '20, 11 949 

